Let’s talk about what they were really afraid of.
Because it wasn’t just the books.
It wasn’t just the reviews.
It wasn’t even just the success.
What they were terrified of... was that it was happening without them.
A Rising Giant Outside the System
In the early 2000s—2001 to 2005—Ruin Mist was climbing. Quietly, consistently, and without permission from the gatekeepers.
These weren’t just books being released.
These were books being read.
They topped charts.
They gained traction in schools and libraries.
They were passed hand to hand by teachers, parents, kids, and librarians who saw something in the work.
And all this was happening at a time when the publishing industry hadn’t yet caught up with the digital world...
So imagine what it was like for them to watch Ruin Mist rise—without the machine behind it.
A fantasy universe with serious legs. A readership that was growing organically. A story told across both YA and adult formats. No big ad spend. No glossy magazine spreads. Just word of mouth and staying power.
So Where Were the Billion-Dollar Franchises Then?
Let’s really look at the landscape.
- Harry Potter: Just beginning its explosion in the U.S., still seen largely as children's fiction.
- A Song of Ice and Fire: Still niche; didn’t break out until HBO in 2011.
- Brandon Sanderson: Debut novel released in 2005, major success came later with Stormlight and Wheel of Time.
Meanwhile, Ruin Mist was already on reading lists, in libraries, and inspiring fan communities.
It Wasn’t Just Success—It Was Control
Here’s the uncomfortable truth:
They weren’t afraid the books would fail.
They were afraid the books would succeed—without them.
That Ruin Mist might become the next big fantasy universe.
That it might challenge the gatekeepers.
That it might upend the formula by doing everything "wrong"—and still work.
This wasn’t about whether the books were good. It was about who was allowed to win.
They didn’t want Ruin Mist to be the next Harry Potter, the next Middle Earth, or the next Westeros—because it wasn’t being built inside their sandbox.
And so the campaign began.
The Takedown Playbook
What do you do when something threatens your control?
- You mock it.
- You discredit the creator.
- You plant doubt about the legitimacy of the work.
- You invent controversy to keep people from reading.
- You weaponize perception before the story can speak for itself.
Sound familiar?
They weren’t just trying to disprove Ruin Mist. They were trying to make it vanish from the cultural conversation altogether.
They didn’t want the next big thing to happen without a publishing contract they negotiated, a movie studio they controlled, or an author they could own. So instead of competing with the work, they attacked the idea that it could be real.
And Yet—The Story Survived
Two decades later, we’re still here.
The books are still being read.
The readers still remember.
The trolls still won’t stop.
Why?
Because the fear is still alive.
That maybe... Ruin Mist mattered.
That maybe the work wasn’t just real—but resonant.
That maybe it hit a nerve, captured something, and held on.
And that even now, if a new generation reads it...
It might rise again.
So Let’s Make This Clear
They weren’t afraid of me.
They were afraid of what the books represented:
- A writer reaching readers—outside their system.
- Stories growing without permission.
- Success that didn’t need validation from above.
They were afraid because they didn’t get to define it.
That’s why they smeared.
That’s why they gaslit.
That’s why they tried to bury it under noise.
But the story still stands.
The books still live.
And you’re still reading this.
What You Can Do
- If you’ve ever felt like the underdog...
- If you’ve seen good stories torn down...
- If you’ve wondered what could’ve been...
Then help us.
- Buy the books.
- Read them.
- Talk about them.
- Share them.
Push back against the lie that only one path to success is allowed.
This time, the gatekeepers don’t get the final say.
Winds of Change – 25th Anniversary Legacy Edition
Launches February 10, 2026
Preorder now. Because this time, they don’t get to win.
—Robert Stanek
Celebrating Worldwide Recognition & Success
Beloved Series & Bestselling Titles
Ruin Mist • Bugville Critters • After the Machines • Scott Evers Thrillers
Chart-Topping Achievements
- #1 Fiction — Audible.com
- #1 Kids & YA — Audible.com
- #1 Mystery/Thriller — Audible.com
- Top 10 Kids & YA — Audible.com
- Top 50 Sci-Fi & Fantasy — Amazon.com
- Top 50 All-Time Bestseller — Audible.com
- #1 Free Dystopian, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Mystery/Thriller — Amazon.com
As Featured In
The New York Times • Publisher's Weekly • VOYA Magazine • Foreword Magazine • School Library Journal • Library Journal • Children's Bookshelf • Parenting Magazine • The Journal of Electronic Defense • OverDrive’s “ContentWire for Libraries” • Ancient Art of Faery Magick • The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Elves & Fairies • Popular Series Fiction for Middle School and Teen Readers
Trusted by Leading Platforms
Audible • Emusic • Epic! • Kobo • Spotify • Tales2Go • Playaway • Findaway World • Ripple Reader • Sony Ebooks • Google Play • Apple Books • Walmart • ThriftBooks • OverDrive • eLibrary • Ingram Digital • EBSCO • Chirp Books • Barnes & Noble • Scribd • Hoopla Digital • Bookshop Org • Tolino Media • Target • Storytel • Librofm • Audiobook Store • Downpour Audio • BookPage • eBrary • Proquest • Baker & Taylor • BookSource • and dozens more over the years to ensure our stories reached homes, schools, and libraries everywhere.
Acclaimed Worldwide by Readers, Critics & Professionals
Ruin Mist / Kingdoms & the Elves / Service of Dragons
- Instant Bestsellers (2002): 26 weeks on Amazon’s Sci-Fi/Fantasy Top 50
- Audible Milestone (2005): #1 for 14 consecutive weeks; Top 10 Kids & YA for 3 years
- Millions of readers reached via Amazon, Audible, OverDrive, and more
- VOYA Review: “Dramatic illustrations draw the reader into the Tolkienesque world...”
- Foreword Magazine: “Three compelling stories, fast-paced and suspenseful… Brisk, accessible prose.”
- Publisher’s Weekly Cover Feature: April 2009
The Pieces of the Puzzle
- #1 Fiction & Top 10 Mystery Bestseller — Audible (2005)
Bugville Critters
- Follett Early Learning: “Essential early learning series.”
- Foreword Magazine: “Colorful and instructive, reminiscent of Little Miss Spider.”
- The Audio Book Store: “One of our most featured and respected Kids authors.”
- Parenting Magazine: “Recommended Series.”
Stormjammers
- The Journal of Electronic Defense: “Ride along with Stanek’s crew in 32 Desert Storm missions.”